Asia Real Estate Personnel News: EPF,Country Garden & dayone Data Centers Make Moves
A major sovereign investor leads today’s look at real estate personnel news from around Asia with Malaysia’s EPF naming a new investment chief. Also making leadership changes this week is China’s Country Garden, which has named a new co-chair, and Singapore’s DayOne Data Centers is adding to its leadership team as it expands its war chest.
Malaysia’s Employees Provident Fund on 1 December announced the appointment of Mohamad Hafiz Kassim (pictured) as its new chief investment officer, with Ahmad Rizal Omar taking over Mohamad Hafiz’s role as chief financial officer.Both appointments took effect from the day of the declaration, with Mohamad Hafiz, who has been with the Malaysian government pension manager for more than 17 years, succeeding Rohaya Mohammad Yusof, who had led the EPF’s investment division for the past five years.
Country Garden has appointed Mo Bin as co-chair, according to a recent filing with the Hong Kong Exchange. The move comes as the Chinese developer navigates ongoing financial challenges.
DayOne data Centers is bolstering its team as it pursues expansion plans. The Singapore-based data centre provider recently announced the appointment of Charles Ong** as its new Chief Financial Officer. Ong brings over 20 years of experience in finance and investment, including a decade with CapitaLand Investment.
Data Centre Players Bulk Up Teams as Sector Heats Up
The Asia data centre market is seeing continued movement in personnel as companies prepare for further growth. KKR has announced the promotion of Cheong Ying Yee to partner, effective January 1st. Cheong, who currently serves as co-head of acquisitions for Asia real estate, joined KKR in 2015 and will maintain her managing director rank until the promotion takes effect. She previously held positions with LIM Advisors in Hong Kong and Lehman Brothers.
Meanwhile, DayOne Data Centers – currently pursuing a reported $2 billion fundraising round – has appointed Kok-Chye Ong as an executive vice president. Ong arrives from Gaw capital Partners, where he spent over four years as head of data centre strategy outside of China and also held the title of managing director.
Digital Halo has welcomed Ziyang Chen to its team. Details regarding Chen’s role were not immediately available. These strategic hires signal continued investment and expansion within the rapidly evolving data centre landscape in Asia.
Equinix Promotes Max Parry to led Growth in Emerging Markets
Max parry has been promoted to the newly created role of vice president for growth and emerging markets with Equinix, according to an announcement this past week. Based in Hong Kong, Parry received his upgrade with the US data centre REIT this month after more than five years with Equinix, including serving most recently as senior director for business development for Asia Pacific.
huang Xi, formerly a vice president with Tahoe group, has joined Nuveen as a director in its real estate investment team, according to a LinkedIn update. Based in Shanghai, Huang will focus on investment strategy and execution for the firm’s China portfolio. Prior to Tahoe Group, Huang had spent nearly a decade with CapitaLand.
Asia Real Estate Movers: Tahoe Group Exec Sentenced, SUNeVision appoints New director
Here’s a roundup of recent personnel changes in the Asia real estate sector:
Tahoe Group Former VP Receives 14-Year Sentence for Bribery
Former Tahoe Group vice president Huang Xi has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for accepting bribes, according to a judgement released by China’s Supreme People’s Court and Supreme People’s Procuratorate on November 28th. https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_32077835 Huang, who previously held a senior position at China Construction Bank for over 30 years, joined Tahoe Group in 2018. He was convicted of receiving RMB 30 million (approximately $4.16 million USD as of December 8,2023) from Tahoe chairman Huang Qisen (no relation) in exchange for facilitating loans for the developer. Tahoe Group defaulted on nearly $27 billion in debt in 2019 and later entered restructuring proceedings.
SUNeVision Appoints New Executive Director
Hong Kong-based data centre operator SUNeVision announced on November 28th the appointment of Helen Lo Ngai as an executive director, effective immediately. https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2025/1128/2025112800627.pdf Lo, currently 41 years old, previously held senior roles at Tencent Music Entertainment from 2013 to 2019. She joined sunevision’s parent company, Sun Hung Kai Properties, in 2020, where she served as head of strategy and was later promoted to general manager of the company’s commercial division. SUNeVision also appointed former Noah Holdings group president Kenny Lam as an independent, non-executive director.
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